Ryley Zucca

General Manager / Wine Director, Royal Dinette

Royal Dinette’s fearless front-of-house leader is Ryley Zucca, who hails from the land of cheesesteaks, Rocky, and bleating Eagles fans, where his first exposure to the glamorous hospitality life came peeling shrimp and washing dishes during the summer of the Atlanta Summer Olympics. Having worked his way through prep kitchens and every possible front of house job, he fled the States not long after his graduation from university. After a couple years learning to love Italian wine in Toronto, he moved west to study architecture at the UBC.

Ultimately hyperactive for academia or architecture though, he just couldn’t stay away from the world of food and drink, his one true love. Before joining the team at Royal Dinette, Ryley worked as the La Mezcaleria beverage director. In the unlikely event that you find him away from Royal Dinette, you might catch him pontificating about the brilliance of Ramato wine, hunched over an esoteric book, or screaming at the Eagles on TV.

On Royal Dinette’s place in Vancouver’s food scene, Ryley says “as a progressive and seasonally-focused restaurant, Royal Dinette occupies a special place. Eva’s menu is both ambitious and creative – pushing the boundaries of dining in the city. Claire’s wine list offers an exciting range of options for any wine drinker. And our bar program is helmed by World Class Bartender of the Year Kaitlyn Stewart, a phrase that requires no further elaboration from me. With every visit, diners can expect to be surprised, to try something new, and expand their palate.”